Bhopal, Nov. 24 (Reuters) – Madhya Pradesh’s Urban Development and Housing Minister, Kailash Vijay Vargiya, warned that any comprehensive plan for the state must place a special focus on the village panchayats that lie just outside urban zones. He said that illegal settlements in these villages often create health and safety issues that must be eradicated. The minister also noted that the surge in city populations doesn’t stop at municipal limits; it spills over into nearby villages, intensifying pressure on local resources.
Addressing a workshop for panchayat leaders and state officials at the Kushabhau Thakre Convention Centre, Vijay Vargiya highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for a developed Bharat by 2047. “That vision can only be achieved in Madhya Pradesh if we devise integrated rural‑urban plans,” he added. He pointed out that roughly 32 % of the state’s residents now live in urban areas, a figure expected to climb close to 50 % in the near future, which will bring new challenges. To tackle this, he called for regular coordination meetings between urban authorities and adjacent village panchayats, ensuring that development proceeds in a planned manner. He suggested that local urban agencies employ a public‑private partnership approach and tap into corporate social responsibility funds to finance projects. The minister also urged panchayat representatives to promote forestry initiatives that help keep their surroundings clean.
In a separate session of the three‑day workshop, Madhya Pradesh’s Panchayat and Rural Development Minister, Prahlad Patel, encouraged panchayat officials to stay attentive to the federal and state schemes currently underway. Patel stressed that the workshop’s aim is to strengthen implementation of the three‑tier panchayat system and improve coordination between elected members and bureaucrats. He announced that the state plans to equip every panchayat with a fully functional cremation ground by December 2026, a goal supported by a Rs 6 000 crore allocation from the Fifth Finance Commission. “True self‑reliance for local bodies isn’t only about finances,” Patel said. “It also encompasses health, hygiene, fighting addiction, resolving disputes peacefully, and a shared commitment to eradicating social evils.”
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